Just Who Is Right…?
In the last issue of Call Sign, Brian Rice in his Chairman’s Report wrote
about what he perceived as problems within the Public Carriage Office and
asked the question whether there were really too many Licensed Taxi drivers?
Brian gave figures which showed that contrary to what other trade
organisations were writing, the number of Licensed Taxi drivers in London
had actually fallen during 2003 rather than increased. He also posed the
question about the number of Examiners at the PCO
who were also Licensed Taxi drivers and surmised that when these people
later went out in their cabs, it could be in their interest if there were
fewer drivers. He went on to ask why the Knowledge of London was taking an
average of four years to complete even though there were a record number of
Examiners available? He ended the piece by saying:
"Well, I’m certainly not advocating flooding London with Taxi
drivers, but if you consider the fact that there are more examiners than
ever, less Knowledge boys are receiving their Bill and that it’s taking on
average more than four years to complete the Knowledge, then this part of
our industry is ripe for someone to call for a ‘Judicial Review’ of the KoL.
If someone did that, then in my opinion the PCO would fall. Then what
would happen to the KoL? Remember, that is the only thing that safeguards
our livelihoods. Is there something going on that we don’t know about…?"
In the March 10 issue of TAXI, Steve McNamara
in his Tout & About column wrote a rather stinging reply to Brian’s
article. Steve started by saying that he enjoys reading Brian’s column and
indeed, in the past he has always been kind to Call Sign having previously
referred to it as the "…second best trade publication after TAXI!" But Steve
infers that whereas he is a writer who drives a cab, Brian Rice – although
not afraid to speak his mind – wears a suit and sits behind a desk during
normal office hours, so can he really understand the problems?
So Call Sign asked Brian Rice to answer Stevie Mac’s criticisms…
Steve says that your figures showing that the number of Taxi
drivers for 2004 has fallen is "…an old chestnut that the old London Taxi
Board used to come out with every year when they wanted more
drivers to buy or rent their |
BRIAN RICE, STEVIE MAC AND ‘TOO MANY CAB DRIVERS’
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Steve McNamara in his "uniform!"
cabs or purchase their insurance / finance or rent
their radios. It’s complete crap!" Steve then admits that the figures
are correct but says that you can’t compare an elderly driver who hands his
badge in and who was "…probably working a few hours a week" to a
"hungry Butterboy / girl who will work 6 or 7 days a week and possibly all
night as well!"
Brian Rice replies:
Just supposition on your part Steve, as the vast majority spend
four years plus doing the KOL and I would suspect that most of them have
jobs, or indeed have had to go to work during the previous four years.
Consequently some of them who then receive their Bill would only drive a cab
on a ‘part time’ basis.
Steve says that your mentioning of a four-year Knowledge is
"the same old Taxi Board rubbish." He also says that he spoke to two
Examiners to check out your "conspiracy theory" and that not only did they
deny any conspiracy, but they also added that it didn’t take four years to
do the KoL. It took "as long as it takes depending on how much time you
spent on it."
Brian Rice replies:
Again Steve is dealing with supposition while I am dealing with
facts. The fact is that it does take on average four years according to the
figures released by the PCO. Regarding Steve talking to the two KOL
examiners, it reminds me of the famous ‘Profumo Affair’ of the sixties when
Mandy Rice-Davies (no relation!) famously stated: "Well, he would say that
wouldn’t he?"
Steve says that you would see life differently from the
front seat of a cab rather than in the back where you sit "answering
driver’s questions" or in Brunswick House with your suit and normal office
hours.
Brian Rice replies:
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I am sorry if I wear a suit
Steve, but it’s just part of my uniform just as the occasional bright
yellow day-glow vest is part of yours! Regarding my understanding the job
better, I believe that I have an extremely balanced view because not only do
I deal with drivers, but I also deal with customers as well. Incidentally,
your accusations are correct - except that I do not work office hours and I
do get paid by the members of Dial-a-Cab, just as you get paid by the
members of the LTDA unless of course you act on behalf of your members for
nothing?
Steve says that The London Taxi Network is just the new
name for the old Taxi Board and "… is not having much success recruiting
a driver’s organisation to its ranks." He also claims that is because of
your "too many drivers" argument and says that "even the smallest drivers
organisation desperate for some recognition" – obviously referring to
the LCDC who were the only organisation mentioned in that context –
"would find that working with manufacturers, radio circuits and proprietors
would "stick in their throats."
Brian Rice replies:
Well, all I can say is that I believe it is far better to be
‘Inside the tent p------g out, than outside the tent trying to p--- in!
Also, unfortunately, I will now have to give Steve a little history lesson
regarding the Cab Trade; LTN has nothing to do with Taxiboard, LTN is the
new name for JRTA (Joint Radio Taxi Association). So if Steve gets a
fundamental fact such as that wrong, then as far as I am concerned it throws
the rest of his article into doubt as he obviously doesn’t know his subject.
What did you think about Steve’s article in general?
Well, obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect
that, however, it would have been nice if Steve had reprinted my article for
readers to judge, as I only made a statement and asked a question. Steve
went into his usual diatribe and it would just have been nice if Steve’s
readers had known exactly what he was referring to when he attacked me in
the way that he did. There is obviously a reason why he never reprinted my
article, perhaps it never served his purpose and God forbid his members have
access to the truth... |
